Every year on Halloween, parents remind their children to be safe if they’re trick-or-treating alone. In today’s world there is more than enough to worry about and even more so on Halloween. As nice as movies such as Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown make trick-or-treating look, the reality is not everyone lives in one of those quaint, close-knit towns. Not to sound like a parent, but there are plenty of ways to keep you and your family safe on Halloween.

The number one thing I was told even when I would trick-or-treat with my parents was to check my candy. We would go home and toss any mysterious-looking candies. There are always those myths of razorblades in the apples and poison or drugs in the candy. Whether or not those “myths” are true, could it really hurt to be too safe? This may sound like a tip for younger children and not so much adults, but being drugged is a not so unheard of occurrence.

Another thing I was always reminded of – and still am as an adul – is to never go anywhere alone. Additionally, trick-or-treaters are typically asked to wear reflective tape or glow sticks, so cars and other people can see you. There are some dark and unlit streets in certain areas.

Regardless of all the safety precautions you can take, anything can happen anywhere. If you’ve seen the news or have logged into any social media site, you are no stranger to these clown threats. Now, I’m not condoning crimes or anything of the sort, but when did “simply” committing a crime get too “boring” that now people are urged to terrorize victims while dressed as clowns. Again, I am not condoning any type of crime, but you have to be special kind of someone to want to take it to the next level.

This “clowning around” is nothing short of disgusting and appalling. Not only are people dressing as clowns and holding weapons to scare and lure children into forests – as they did in Ohio – but also there have been threats about these clowns attacking Philadelphia schools. It was discovered on October 3^rd, 2016 that calls were made to a high school in South Philadelphia with threats of a clown invasion and school shooting. It was discovered that the person behind these calls was none other than a 13 year old girl. She claimed it was a prank.

A prank? Honey, when I was growing up games like Ding, Dong, Ditch and Knock, Knock, Run Away were pranks. Today we have little kids threatening schools with clowns and guns and playing Knock Out, where you punch a victim and run away. I’m sorry, but what kind of world do we live in? This is sick. I do not offer a single solution or answer. Until there is a solution, do what you can to keep yourself safe. Be alert. Be smart. Be aware. I do wish that this Halloween season and every day that you remain safe and watch yourself. Be careful out there!